Taking excessive calcium tablets may increase the risk of cancer, according to scientists who say that getting adequate nutrients from food sources is more beneficial than consuming supplements.
The study, published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, also showed that adequate intake of certain nutrients reduces risk of death from any cause, when nutrient source is foods, but not supplements.
Researchers found that supplemental doses of calcium exceeding 1,000 miligrammes per day is linked to an increased risk of cancer death, “As potential benefits and harms of supplement use continue to be studied, some studies have found associations between excess nutrient intake and adverse outcomes, including increased risk of certain cancers,” said Fang Fang Zhang, associate professor at Tufts University in the US.
“It is important to understand the role that the nutrient and its source might play in health outcomes, particularly if the effect might not be beneficial,” Zhang said.
The study used data from more than 27,000 US adults ages 20 and older to evaluate the association between dietary supplement use and death from all causes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer.
